A model of the evolution of dichogamy incorporating sex-ratio selection, anther-stigma interference, and inbreeding depression

Historically, explanations for the evolution of floral traits that reduce self-fertilization have tended to focus on selection to avoid inbreeding depression. However, there is growing support for the hypothesis that such traits also play a role in promoting efficient pollen dispersal by reducing anther-stigma interference. The relative importance of these two selective pressures is currently a popular topic of investigation. To date, there has been no theoretical exploration of the relative contributions of selection to avoid the genetic costs of self-fertilization and selection to promote efficient pollen dispersal on the evolution of floral traits. We developed a population genetic model to examine the influence of these factors on the evolution of dichogamy: the temporal separation of anther maturation and stigma receptivity. Our analysis indicates that anther-stigma interference can favor dichogamy even in the absence of in-breeding depression. Although anther-stigma interference and inbreeding depression are the key forces driving the initial evolution of dichogamy, selection to match the timing of pollen dispersal to the availability of ovules at the population level becomes a more potent force opposing the further evolution of dichogamy as the extent of temporal separation increases. This result may help to explain otherwise puzzling phenomena such as why dichogamy is rarely complete in nature and why dichogamy tends to be associated with asynchronous flower presentation.     

Synthesis and bioevaluation of N-(arylalkyl)-homospermidine conjugates

N1-(Arylalkyl)homospermidines (1c-1f) and terminally piperazine-substituted homospermidine conjugates (2a-2e) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity in mouse leukemia L1210, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-treated L1210, melanoma B16, spermidine (SPD)-treated B16, and HeLa cell lines. Results demonstrated that homospermidine was a more effective vector than piperazine-substituted homospermidine in ferrying diverse arenes into cells via the polyamine transporter. The leading compound, 9-anthracenemethyl-homospermidine (1a), was shown to induce apoptosis in B16 cells and IL-3 dependent FL5.12A pro-B cells. The novel conjugate 4-biphenylmethyl-homospermidine (1e) could also induce apoptosis. However, it exhibited different effect on the cell cycle of B16 cells compared to 1a.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN COMPOSITAE V. ASTEREAE II.

Reports of 100 new chromosome counts are made for the tribe Astereae of Compositae, mostly based on determinations of meiotic material, including first counts for 9 genera and 53 species. Counts are now available for 58 of the approximately 100–120 genera and 431 of the approximately 2000 species in the tribe. Comparisons are made between chromosome number and habit and also between chromosome number and geographical distribution. Species and genera with a basic number of x = 9 are the most abundant. Within different phyletic lines x = 9 is also the most abundant number. On the other hand, many species with x = 4 and 5, belonging to a number of small, largely annual genera, are concentrated in southwestern North America. The low chromosome number in these plants is probably correlated with the dry habitat they occupy, and is most likely a specialized condition.     

Dehydrodieugenols from Ocotea cymbarum

The trunk wood of Ocotea cymbarum from the Amazon basin contains α-phellandrene, α-pinene, eugenol, dehydrodieugenol and its monomethyl ether, as well as the previously unknown dehydrodieugenol-B (4,5′-diallyl-2′-hydroxy-2,3′-dimethoxydiphenyl ether).     

Esterase-16 (Es-16): Characterization,polymorphism, and linkage to chromosome 3 of a kidney esterase locus of the house mouse

A polymorphism for an isozyme of a presumed arylesterase, esterase-16 (EC 3.1.1.2), has been detected in kidney, heart, and spleen of the house mouse, Mus musculus, by means of isoelectric focusing and by disc electrophoresis. Three phenotypes can be distinguished: the ES-16A phenotype (IEP 5.9) was found in C57BL/10Sn and many other laboratory inbred strains; the ES-16B phenotype (IEP 6.1) was found in M. m. molossinus; and the ES-16C phenotype (IEP 5.9; very weak activity) was found in Peru-Coppock. Esterase-16 is strongly inhibited by 10^?3 m p-chloromercuribenzoate, but not by 2·10^?4 m bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate or by 10^?3 m Diamox. It stains well with indoxyl acetate and other indigogenic substrates but only weakly with α-naphthyl acetate. Esterase-16 is completely insoluble in water. It is apparently governed by a structural gene locus, Es-16, with three alleles, Es-16 ^a , Es-16^b, and Es-16 ^c, respectively. Es-16 is closely linked to Car-1 and Car-2 on chromosome 3. Typing of 94 animals of the backcross (C57BL/10Sn × M. m. mol.) F₁ × M. m. mol. revealed a recombination frequency of 8.51±2.9%.     

Neocarzinostatin chromophore: Presence of a highly strained ether ring and its reaction with mercaptan and sodium borohydride

Spectroscopic evidence suggests the presence of a highly strained ether ring (Fig. 1) (possibly an epoxide) in the C₁₂-subunit of the previously determined partial structure $\text{2a}$ (Fig. 2) of the major neocarzinostatin chromophore (NCS-Chrom $\text{A}$) which completes assignment of all the oxygens in the molecule. The main product from mercaptan treatment suggests opening of the ether ring involving the addition of one molecule of mercaptan as well as reduction of the C₁₂-substructure, whereas a parallel two-step reduction occurs on NaBH₄ treatment. Both reactions occur with rearrangement of the C₁₂-substructure and the implication for the mechanism of action of NCS-Chrom $\text{A}$ in DNA strand scission activity is discussed. The evidence suggests a downward revision of the molecular formula for NCS-Chrom $\text{A}$ as well as minor components $\text{B}$ and $\text{C}$ by two protons.     

Sinorhizobium meliloti acpXL mutant lacks the C28 hydroxylated fatty acid moiety of lipid A and does not express a slow migrating form of lipopolysaccharide

Lipid A is the hydrophobic anchor of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipid A of all Rhizobiaceae is acylated with a long fatty acid chain, 27-hydroxyoctacosanoic acid. Biosynthesis of this long acyl substitution requires a special acyl carrier protein, AcpXL, which serves as a donor of C28 (omega-1)-hydroxylated fatty acid for acylation of rhizobial lipid A (Brozek, K.A., Carlson, R.W., and Raetz, C. R. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 32126-32136). To determine the biological function of the C28 acylation of lipid A, we constructed an acpXL mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti strain 1021. Gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis of the fatty acid composition showed that the acpXL mutation indeed blocked C28 acylation of lipid A. SDS-PAGE analysis of acpXL mutant LPS revealed only a fast migrating band, rough LPS, whereas the parental strain 1021 manifested both rough and smooth LPS. Regardless of this, the LPS of parental and mutant strains had a similar sugar composition and exposed the same antigenic epitopes, implying that different electrophoretic profiles might account for different aggregation properties of LPS molecules with and without a long acyl chain. The acpXL mutant of strain 1021 displayed sensitivity to deoxycholate, delayed nodulation of Medicago sativa, and a reduced competitive ability. However, nodules elicited by this mutant on roots of M. sativa and Medicago truncatula had a normal morphology and fixed nitrogen. Thus, the C28 fatty acid moiety of lipid A is not crucial, but it is beneficial for establishing an effective symbiosis with host plants. acpXL lies upstream from a cluster of five genes, including msbB (lpxXL), which might be also involved in biosynthesis and transfer of the C28 fatty acid to the lipid A precursor.     

Evidence for a new pathway in the bacterial degradation of 4-fluorobenzoate.

Six bacterial strains able to use 4-fluorobenzoic acid as their sole source of carbon and energy were isolated by selective enrichment from various water and soil samples from the Stuttgart area. According to their responses in biochemical and morphological tests, the organisms were assigned to the genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, and Aureobacterium. To elucidate the degradation pathway of 4-fluorobenzoate, metabolic intermediates were identified. Five gram-negative isolates degraded this substrate via 4-fluorocatechol, as described in previous studies. In growth experiments, these strains excreted 50 to 90% of the fluoride from fluorobenzoate. Alcaligenes sp. strains RHO21 and RHO22 used all three isomers of monofluorobenzoate. Alcaligenes sp. strain RHO22 also grew on 4-chlorobenzoate. Aureobacterium sp. strain RHO25 transiently excreted 4-hydroxybenzoate into the culture medium during growth on 4-fluorobenzoate, and stoichiometric amounts of fluoride were released. In cell extracts from this strain, the enzymes for the conversion of 4-fluorobenzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate could be detected. All these enzymes were inducible by 4-fluorobenzoate. These data suggest a new pathway for the degradation of 4-fluorobenzoate by Aureobacterium sp. strain RHO25 via 4-hydroxybenzoate and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate.